Dave Navarro's Powerful Message Of Hope

Warped Tour started in 1995 as a touring music festival and has grown into not only the largest but the longest-running touring festival in America. Its focus on punk rock in conjunction with corporate sponsors, such as its namesake Vans, has brought artists such as No Doubt, Weezer, Green Day, and August Burns Red, among others, straight to fans during its run, which Lyman announced would conclude at the end of the 2018 season.

Not only has founder Lyman had a hand in curating generations of music across the country, but Warped Tour has become a beacon for recovery with artists such as rapper Kosha Dillz finding their way to sobriety thanks to the iconic festival. This isn't an accident, and Lyman's connection to organizations benefitting the well-being of musicians is evident through his work with the Recording Academy-affiliated health and human services charity, MusiCares.

Early on in the history of the Warped Tour, Lyman began leveraging the power of his festival to help direct donations toward the philanthropic efforts of MusiCares, pledging a quarter of every ticket sold, holding auctions of iconic memorabilia and also hosting an annual golf tournament to benefit the organization.

In the years since, Lyman has gone on to serve on the MusiCares Board of Directors. In 2011 he was honored alongside Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode at the annual MusiCares Concert For Recovery benefit concert, where Lyman was presented with the MusiCares From The Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization.

"I have always had a philanthropic side to all my ventures," Lyman explains of his decision to partner with MusiCares. "More and more I saw that artists and crew members of mine were dealing with medical needs or emergencies, and then I learned more about the Recording Academy … so I figured that it was great to get involved with an organization like MusiCares.

"They've done a lot for our artists," Lyman adds, detailing the helpful efforts the organization has undertaken to help artists and crew better protect their hearing and have the opportunities for more consistent dental treatment, which can often fall by the wayside while out on tour. "I felt MusiCares needed to get more younger people supporting it, and I was able to help."

MusiCares assists music people in need with more than just medical expenses, however. The addiction recovery and sobriety management assistance that the organization helps provide can be a crucial lifeline for music people working the steps toward recovery.

"I wish I'd had more resources back in '95. Maybe some of these artists we didn't save could have been saved." — Kevin Lyman

For someone so heavily involved in music, touring and festivals for such a large part of his life, Lyman can point to his early experiences working clubs and venues in Los Angeles, and then his inaugural year with Warped Tour as having had a formational influence on his outlook on drugs, alcohol and addiction recovery.

"When I first started the Warped Tour in 1995, Sublime was on that tour. Brad Nowell was addicted. Maybe that's why I work so hard at it now — he passed away right after the first Warped Tour," Lyman said. "I wish I'd had the knowledge that I have now, or the resources back then, to maybe have been able to help him. I don't know if we could have, but I think now that we travel with someone like [sober living coach] Mike Farr … we can have some early intervention and early help for these people."

For artists and fans tied to the Warped Tour scene, Lyman challenges some elements of mainstream society's skewed perception of the punk or alternative circles — especially in their early days — as openly embracing drugs, alcohol and other forms of self-destruction as an act of rebellion.

"There were just as many people trying to be sober, and there was also the straight-edge movement in punk rock," Lyman points out. "We had no more or less issues than the music industry as a whole. … There were a lot of resources, [but] our scene was probably a little too prideful to ask."

Lyman's work in addiction recovery isn't done yet either. He's switching gears to one of the prevalent issues affecting the modern-day scene and the entire music industry — opioid addiction — through a project called FEND.

The FEND movement — Free Energy No Drugs — is an organization working to address the worsening opioid addiction epidemic that has swept our country, with overdoses now responsible for as many annual deaths as guns in the U.S., according to FEND's website.

"We are using the Warped Tour as a model," Lyman explains about the new initiative, "hopefully to be able to use it as a white label for all genres of music, all forms of entertainment, sports, all those things.

"I think that [comes from] my association with MusiCares. It's opened my eyes that there is still a lot more that we can all be doing."

Dave Navarro's Powerful Message Of Hope

A "Cardinal," Higa studied political science at Stanford University. It was at Stanford where he learned the importance of "a huge dose of humility," among other life lessons that came into focus.

"I learned pretty quickly that there are a lot of much smarter people in the world and a lot of things you don't know, so ask for help," says Higa, who added that photography is how he paid his way through school, specifically sports and product photography.

"Stanford was an amazingly interdisciplinary environment. I was able to seamlessly intermingle not just with students in my major but with computer programmers, electrical engineers, biochemists, philosophers, and the like. I learned that innovation happens at the edge of unreasonableness and that you must have the curiosity to venture forth to the outer edges beyond your areas of interests and poke around."

This educational experience proved to be the perfect building ground for Higa's work with Apple. He first joined the innovative company in the mid-'80s, playing a key role in setting up its business in Japan. Higa departed in 1989 to join Steve Jobs' second computer company, NeXT, only to return to Apple in 2001 — the same year the groundbreaking iPod was unveiled.

"I would describe my role [at Apple] as 'Special Ops,'" says Higa. "I think of it as the lone scout out in the wilderness looking for the Northwest Passage. When I do find a passage like iTunes, for example, the railroad and the towns come in and entire cities get built. I don't care for towns so I move on to the next wilderness."

It was during his sophomore turn at Apple when Higa "scouted" the work of MusiCares.

"I had gotten to know the vital services of MusiCares through my work in launching iTunes at Apple," he says. "MusiCares is such an important part of the fabric of the music industry that you can't help but hear about it. [Deputy General Counsel for the Recording Academy] Bobby Rosenbloum at the fabled entertainment law practice Greenberg Traurig reached out to me about serving on the board."

A true music lover with unabashed tastes ranging from Eminem, Rimi Natsukawa and Louis Armstrong to Ellie Goulding, Andra Day and Beethoven, Higa is steadfast in his belief that MusiCares is a vital component of the music industry.

"Music is what makes us human. We had music when the first cave women stepped out of the darkness and started pounding on a log. We will have music 300 years from now when we have colonized Mars," says Higa. "We have to support the artists, creators, and all people in the industry that bring forth music into the world.

"I firmly believe that the safety net of critical assistance for music people in their times of need and human services that MusiCares provide that directly impact the welfare of our community is essential to keeping the spirit of music vibrant and alive."

While the lifeblood of MusiCares flows through its dedicated staff team and elected leadership, Higa is quick to praise the artist community for their selfless support and programs such as the House Concert series as evidence of win-wins for the organization.

"Many of our Board members help plan and put on private House Concerts that benefit MusiCares," says Higa. "You can enjoy the performance of an artist who generously donates their time in a very intimate setting like someone's home with the proceeds going to benefit our programs. Sheryl Crow and Ed Sheeran, as examples, have recently performed at a House Concert."

Through his service, Higa has gained a front-row view into how MusiCares helps to positively transform clients' lives. One particularly riveting story comes to mind when asked about an example.

"A friend of Brett's called MusiCares a few years before Brett had the strength to do so himself," recalls Higa. "He was struggling with a devastating heroin addiction and most of his friends and family had given up on him. He lost his publishing deal and was close to living on the streets. He contacted his friend, asking for MusiCares number.

"MusiCares got Brett into treatment immediately and Brett attended MusiCares weekly aftercare groups after he completed his inpatient stay. Brett has now been sober for over 10 years and he recently celebrated his second number one hit over the course of a year."

In addition to helping clients and on-the-road staples such as the Safe Harbor Room program, Higa is especially proud of how the organization is quick to help the music community rebound from dire tragedies.

"This past year was sadly one full of devastating disasters," he says. "We mobilized quickly to provide support to members of the music community affected by the wildfires in Northern and Southern California as well as establish a relief fund to support those affected by the devastation of the recent hurricanes. We also extended our services to offer trauma support for those affected by the tragic Las Vegas shooting."

"I learned that innovation happens at the edge of unreasonableness and that you must have the curiosity to venture forth to the outer edges beyond your areas of interests and poke around." — James Higa

Coming up, Higa has the Concert For Recovery in May circled on his calendar. He's looking forward to the event that will raise more funds for MusiCares' addiction recovery services while recognizing Pearl Jam's Mike McCready with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award. And don't forget the performances.

"We want to raise the awareness, as Mike says best, that, 'Recovery is a journey that you take each day,' and that 'we can come together to help those in need,'" says Higa. "There will be amazing performances by Barrett Martin, Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan and Slash, Mike Ness, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith, and Nancy Wilson of Heart fame — thanks to our Board member Steve Boom and Amazon Music's generous sponsorship."

Speaking of generosity, Higa left Apple in 2012 to helm Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. The Oakland-based foundation shares a like-minded give-back approach in acting as "a model for the philanthropic community, demonstrating new concepts in giving and disseminating this information to colleagues across the country and abroad."

"We practice seed stage philanthropy," says Higa. "We want to be the first to find and the first to fund innovative ideas and inspiring leaders in our communities. Find 'em and fund 'em as we like to say. It could be hunger, safety net, education, etc. — we are not constrained by the 'space' you are in."

Interestingly, the foundation's grant cycle is certainly not limited to typical lengthy periods, as Higa points out it "is an unheard of anti-bureaucratic average of 48 hours."

Higa's current focus on his work with PVF and his service to MusiCares is bound by the unmistakable power of his yes-we-can philosophy. He has a special mentor from his time with Apple to thank for helping to instill this belief system.

"Steve Jobs — we'll not see the likes of him for a millennium. He showed me that great teams can push against the universe and make a dent. With clarity, vision, focus, and relentless execution, you can go where all others say 'no', and bring a 'yes' into being."

Kirdis Postelle On MusiCares, Brothers Johnson & Lessons From Dr. Dre

Warner Bros. Records SVP of marketing discusses how she came into the MusiCares Board fold and how she continues to benefit from her first music industry jobs

Tim McPhate

MusiCares

Mar 2, 2018 - 2:40 pm

As Vice Chair of MusiCares' Board of Directors, Kirdis Postelle brings more than 25 years of experience in the music industry. With prior stints at LaFace Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Capitol Records, she possesses a wealth of knowledge and relationships having worked with A-list talent such as Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Antonio "L.A." Reid and Dr. Dre, and Sam Smith.

Currently, Postelle is the senior vice president of marketing at Warner Bros. Records, where she develops and implements marketing strategies for artists such as Dua Lipa, Andra Day and Lil Pump.

While some people are apt to forget their first job, Postelle looks back fondly at her first gig as an important career stepping stone that benefits her still to this day.

"My first job was as an administrative assistant at LaFace Records in Atlanta," says Postelle. "Working at LaFace was like music industry boot camp. I worked long, hard hours and learned a lot of the basics that have guided my professional career to date."

Postelle segued to working with Dr. Dre at Aftermath Entertainment for nearly 20 years. There, she managed multiple divisions, including marketing, promotion, publicity, and A&R, in addition to working with talent such as Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and The Game. Her fruitful tenure with the GRAMMY-winning business mogul was challenging but ultimately provided a treasure trove of learning opportunities.

"One of the most important lessons I learned working for Dr. Dre for 17 years was: Always strive for excellence," she says. "He would set the bar for us so high that in most instances we couldn't reach it, but when we did the results were extraordinary. He also taught me not to be afraid to walk away from or let something go that didn't meet the standards we'd set.

"[Dr. Dre also taught me to] never take no for an answer, even from him. People tend to work from 'no' as a default position. I learned that a compelling argument, new information or enough money was often enough to turn a no to a yes. I can count on one hand the number of times I had to tell Dre something couldn't happen."

Making positive things "happen" for the music community is a big part of MusiCares' mission. Whether it's financial assistance, assisting clients with medical care, aiding with disaster relief or providing addiction recovery resources, the Recording Academy's health and human services charity works tirelessly year-round to provide a safety net for the music community. Postelle became aware of the charity via its annual GRAMMY Week event, Person of the Year.

Jan 27, 2018 – 3:41 pm

Fleetwood Mac's Person Of The Year Acceptance

"As a young executive I always wanted to go to the MusiCares Person of the Year event," says Postelle. "You'd see the photos and hear the gossip and knew it was a place you wanted to be if you were in the music business. I wasn't as familiar with the charity until Bill Silva recruited me for the board."

Having been on the Board since 2014, Postelle has had a front-row vantage point of the organization's critical work.

"Being on the Board we get to see how MusiCares is directly impacting lives in the music community all of the time," says Postelle. "The work we do is inspiring and heartbreaking. I'm personally in awe of the medical professionals and the staff at MusiCares that work tirelessly to provide our addiction recovery and mental health services.

As an elected leader for MusiCares, Postelle has supported initiatives such as the Young Ambassadors program. Meanwhile, she has targeted bolstering the charity's profile in the hip-hop community as an action item.

"I think the work we're doing with our Young Ambassadors program is bringing awareness to younger, more tech-savvy executives," she says. "I'd like to see MusiCares have more of a presence at more hip-hop festivals [like] Rolling Loud. The need for the services we provide is overwhelming in the hip-hop community, and there is just a general lack of awareness about MusiCares in this space."

Speaking of hip-hop, Postelle name checks A Tribe Called Quest's "Bonita Applebum," Jay-Z and UGK's "Big Pimpin'" and Lamar's "A.D.H.D" as some of her favorite songs. But what's her favorite of all time?

"My all-time favorite song is 'Strawberry Letter 23' by the Brothers Johnson. The memories tied to this song always make me happy."

Tamara Hrivnak: Facebook Exec Talks MusiCares, Mentors & '80s Music

Facebook's head of music business development and partnerships identifies who brought her into the MusiCares fold and how tech companies can help increase awareness for the Recording Academy charity

Tim McPhate

MusiCares

Jan 12, 2018 - 11:29 am

In many ways, MusiCares relies on word of mouth in terms of reaching clients. Along those lines, sometimes it's word of mouth that can be a catalyst in attracting potential Board of Directors representatives. At least, that's the story for Tamara Hrivnak, Facebook's head of music business development and partnerships.

"My dear friend Susan Genco, a former fellow Board member [and president of Azoff MSG Entertainment], shared the important and impactful work that MusiCares does for music people in need," says Hrivnak. "I was immediately drawn to MusiCares' mission."

A self-professed "child of the '80s," Hrivnak's connection with the power of music goes back to her childhood.

"As a kid growing up in Canada, we worshipped the Tragically Hip. 'Fiddler's Green' takes me back to Toronto and Kingston and a deep love of Canadian music," she says. "Everything Madonna and Cyndi Lauper beckons the '80s, sisterhood and being bold and unique — like 'Express Yourself.'"

Hrivnak's affinity for music is something that has shadowed her career journey. She got her start as a corporate lawyer focusing on technology transactions and intellectual property with New York firms Shearman & Sterling and Morrison & Foerster. She soon gravitated to all of the dynamic change and complexity in music and copyright.

"I found my way to working with and advising the Harry Fox Agency, the NMPA, EMI Publishing, and Warner Music in digital deal-making, among others, and I've never looked back."

Of course, behind a successful executive there typically is a story of a person who played a key role in helping to shape their career. Hrivnak cites former Warner/Chappell Music CEO David Johnson as one of her "special" mentors.

"He placed a big bet on me early in my career. He helped me to see a path for cranking in my professional life and being a devoted working mom," says Hrivnak. [David] is the single best teacher on negotiation strategy. He taught me that bringing humanity and goodness into the workplace is a baseline and that courageous bets and risk of failure are necessary in order to succeed."

In January 2017, Hrivnak embarked on a new chapter in her career in joining Facebook, where she spearheads commercial relationships with labels, music publishers and societies around the globe.

"Facebook is all about making the world more open and connected — music can play an important role," she says. "We're at the very beginning of that journey and we're excited to expand upon our relationship with artists, labels, writers, music publishers, and other key industry stakeholders.

"In my time here, I've built a team of leading music veterans to partner more deeply with the music industry. We have created first of kind commercial partnerships with major players in the music industry, such as our recently announced worldwide deal with Universal Musicand another with Sony/ATV.

"I'm incredibly grateful to have amazingly talented leaders join Facebook's mission in music — foundational team members include Michael King, who leads global label business development; Anjali Southward, who leads international music publishing business development; and Scott Sellwood, who leads commercial music publishing partnerships. The common denominator among our music leadership team is a deep love of music, compassion and experience in building innovative music partnerships."

As a member of MusiCares' Board, Hrivnak believes that there is a strategic opportunity for tech companies, in particular, to play an integral role in spreading the charity's mission.

"As technology companies like Facebook continue to grow and foster their relationship with the music community, we have an opportunity to help MusiCares grow awareness and support in new markets," she says. "This also extends to MusiCares reaching new communities on our platforms. I'm committed to bringing technology and music closer together and my support of MusiCares is an important part of that effort.

"Organic donate tools on Facebook and other platforms to connect people and artists is a great way to expand MusiCares’ reach."

"It is such a special year for the GRAMMYs and MusiCares — bringing the GRAMMYs and Person of the Year to New York after15 years is exciting," says Hrivnak. "My favorite part of GRAMMY week each year is celebrating standout music, artists and writers, as well as the power of music, the community of music as a whole. Person of the Year is a key part of that celebration."

Brooks, Yearwood, Cyrus, and Perry will join an impressive list of performers in paying tribute to the country icon at the MusiCares gala held during GRAMMY Week 2019

Nate Hertweck

MusiCares

Dec 18, 2018 - 7:00 am

Just when you thought the performer lineup for the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring GRAMMY-winning country icon Dolly Parton couldn't get any better, it has. GRAMMY winners Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and past GRAMMY nominees Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry will join the star-studded list of performers paying tribute to Parton in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019.

To the delight of fans and artists alike, the honoree will be closing out the program with a special performance as well, with GRAMMY-nominated musician Greg Phillinganes serving as the musical director for the evening.

Parton is being recognized as the 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year, marking the first member of the Nashville music community to receive the honor. She was chosen for her unparalleled contributions to country music and a multitude of charitable causes, including the children's literacy organization she started in 1995, Imagination Library, with which she has donated over 100 million books to kids around the world.

"Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish," Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said. "Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs."

MusiCares provides a vital safety net of health and human services programs, and the proceeds from MusiCares annual Person of the Year gala go directly to the charitable organization to continue their much-needed work, which includes helping music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The 29th annual gala will open with a reception and silent auction sponsored by Delta Airlines offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests followed by a gala dinner sponsored by AEG complete with a live auction, the tribute concert and the award presentation.

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.